Science Fiction and the Community College: A Symbiosis.

This paper discusses science fiction in general, and argues that science fiction is a method for exploring present and future potentialities, for educating people about the possibilities of the future, for helping people condition themselves to change. A science fiction course taught at the community college level as a humanities elective is described. Four novels are read during the course, including "Frankenstein,""Brave New World,""Childhood's End," and "Sirens of Titan." Two other books, "As Tomorrow Becomes Today" and "The Ethnics of Genetic Control" are also used. Students participate in two panel discussions which are related to various reading assignments, and also write a brief research paper about some current phase of science or technology which might affect people in the future. Students also write a paper about a device they have "invented" and write their own science fiction short story. Filmstrips are used as teaching tools during the course and several guest lectures are given. (TS)